Graham Platner, a U.S. Senate candidate, spoke with students during a recent virtual town hall. He answered questions on housing, student debt, gun policy, and rebuilding trust in government. The following is a condensed and lightly edited excerpt from the Q&A session.
Student: I want to stay in Maine after graduation, but I’m worried that I’m not going to be able to afford to live here. What are you going to do if elected related to the housing affordability crisis here in Maine?
Platner: We need to build more housing. Maine is tens of thousands of units short, and we’re simply not building enough. Part of the problem is that we don’t treat housing as a human right. Instead, it’s often used as a way to extract wealth through rent or investment. I think we need federal investment to expand housing, including rebuilding Maine’s aging housing stock. That could create jobs while making homes more livable and energy efficient. We should also expand programs like low-interest loans so first-time homebuyers can actually afford to buy homes, because in many cases, mortgages are cheaper than rent.
Student: The extreme cost of higher education and the debt that follows us after graduation — what is your position on student debt forgiveness?
Platner: I fully support it. Federal student debt should be discharged. But beyond that, we need to restructure education so future generations aren’t put in the same position. Education is a public good, and we should move toward free public education, from childcare through higher education and trade schools.
Student: Could you talk about your policy related to gun control?
Platner: I support universal background checks and red flag laws that restrict access to firearms for people with a history of violence or signs of future harm. I say that as someone who grew up around guns and still uses them. Beyond that, we need to address the root causes of gun violence, including poverty and lack of access to mental healthcare.
Student: Cities like Lewiston and Portland have become sites of both resettlement and political tension. How should federal policy respond to rapid demographic change?
Platner: We need a functional immigration system. That means more resources, more courts, and a clear pathway to citizenship. People are going to come to the United States, and we should allow them to do so legally and contribute to society. A lot of tension comes from economic insecurity, and addressing that, by investing in communities, can reduce those conflicts.
Student: What are you going to do to rebuild trust in the U.S. government, globally and at home?
Platner: We need systemic change. It’s not about messaging, it’s about actually changing how government operates. Internationally, that means reducing reliance on militarism, respecting international institutions, and addressing corporate power. Domestically, trust will only come if people feel the government is working for them rather than for corporations.
Student: What’s a book you would recommend to everyone on this Zoom?
Platner: No Shortcuts by Jane McAlevey. It’s about labor organizing, but it really applies to any kind of community organizing. It changed how I think about power and politics.
Student: Best snack on the campaign trail?
Platner: Sour Patch Kids. I eat way too many of them.
Student: I have friends who say they’re going to vote, but won’t volunteer. What can I do?
Platner: You just keep asking. Organizing requires persistence. At the same time, make it enjoyable, start with something social or low-pressure and build from there. If people have a good experience, they’re more likely to stay involved.
~ Sophia Ikiri `29
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